Smile

I am smiling

Telgemeier, Raina. Smile. New York : Graphix, 2010.

Plot: Raina's life takes a turn for the worst after she falls and damages her two front teeth. Instead of merely getting braces, she now has to have her entire mouth re-arranged over a series of several years. While undergoing braces, extractions, headgear, and root canals, she also grows up. Her interests, companions, and expectations change. As a result, some of the things she used to count on prove unreliable, as do some of the people she knows.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Growing Up, Family, Friends, Autobiography

Reading Level: Grades 9-12

Similar Titles: Drama, Big Nate

Personal Thoughts: Telgemeier's autobiographic struck a lot of nostalgia and realization. She and I grew up around the same time and witnessed many of the same events, such as the Northridge Earthquake and Disney's The Little Mermaid. Both of us also experienced tooth trouble due to a fall. However, one event in the text struck a nerve.

Toward the end of the book, Raina confronts her friends about their poor treatment of her. Much like her, I needed to learn the difference between someone who would hang out with me and someone who was a friend. Unfortunately, not all companions are beneficial. Some are actually cruel, but students (and even adults) often fail to recognize this. Many put up with mean or abusive behavior rather than risk being alone. Raina's confrontation is one I wished I participated in. Instead, I dealt with poor relations until I joined college. Texts willing to discuss the pressure of fitting in while acknowledging the need to break off bad relationships seem rare, so one that discusses it in an accessible, believable manner offers an amazing example and good story.